Midjourney introduces a transformative feature called "Style Reference," enabling creators to apply the style of one image to another. Launched on January 31, 2024, by CEO David Holz, this feature allows users to include the URL of an inspiring image in their prompts, ensuring the new artwork mimics the style and color nuances of the reference. This advancement offers precision in achieving consistent styles across AI-generated art, a significant leap from previous style tuners. Exclusive to version 6 of Midjourney, Style References enhance artistic creativity by maintaining stylistic fidelity across various prompts.
Introduction
The introduction of Style References by Midjourney marks a significant development in AI-generated art, offering creators an unprecedented level of control over the stylistic elements of their creations. This feature represents a major advancement over previous style tuners, providing a more precise and consistent way to integrate specific artistic styles into new artworks.
How to Use Style References
From the Midjourney Announcement:
To use Style References, type
--sreffollowed by the URLs of one or more images. The model interprets these URLs as ‘style references’ and attempts to match their aesthetics in the output. Adjust the influence of each style by assigning weights and control the overall strength of stylization with--sw.
Getting Started with Midjourney
Ensure you’re using version 6 of Midjourney by checking the settings. If you need a URL for an image, you can upload it to Discord and use the provided link.
Uploading Images to Discord
To upload an image to Discord for use in Midjourney, send the image to the Midjourney Bot, then obtain the direct image link through various methods depending on your platform (Desktop, Web, Mobile App).
Experiments with Single and Multiple Style References
Initial experiments with single style references show how an image can influence a prompt. Adjusting the style weight (--sw) changes the degree of this influence. Further exploration with multiple style references demonstrates the blending of different styles, revealing the versatility of this feature in creating complex, stylistically coherent artworks.
Combining Styles and Weights
Combining different style references and adjusting their weights allows for intricate control over the final output. This section discusses experiments that mix styles with varying weights, demonstrating the nuanced effects achievable with this method.
Style Reference Versus Image Prompt
The distinction between using an image as a style reference versus an image prompt is highlighted, showing how each approach affects the final artwork differently. This comparison illustrates the unique capabilities of the --sref feature in influencing artwork without directly incorporating elements from the reference image.
Conclusion
The exploration of Midjourney’s Style References reveals its potential to revolutionize AI art by providing detailed control over stylistic consistency. This feature not only replicates the aesthetics of reference images but also integrates their essence into new creations, pushing the boundaries of digital artistry.
Midjourney’s Style References open up new realms of creativity, allowing artists to merge inspiration from various sources into their digital creations with unprecedented precision.
Style Reference Prompts
a basket full of playful kittens --sref https://s.mj.run/ln_ahmdE43c --v 6.0a basket full of playful kittens --sref https://s.mj.run/frTdH7J_Gio --v 6.0a basket full of playful kittens --sref https://s.mj.run/O_w9neuqCMI --v 6.0a basket full of playful kittens --sref https://s.mj.run/ln_ahmdE43c https://s.mj.run/Lw_0fjfp0TM https://s.mj.run/O_w9neuqCMI --v 6.0a basket full of playful kittens --sref https://s.mj.run/ln_ahmdE43c ::3 https://s.mj.run/Lw_0fjfp0TM ::6 https://s.mj.run/O_w9neuqCMI ::3 --v 6.0a basket full of playful kittens https://s.mj.run/43bAPM-ATlw --sref https://s.mj.run/ln_ahmdE43c ::6 https://s.mj.run/Lw_0fjfp0TM ::3 https://s.mj.run/O_w9neuqCMI ::3 --v 6.0A cat in a large hat made of tropical fruit. https://s.mj.run/43bAPM-ATlw --sref https://s.mj.run/ln_ahmdE43c ::3 https://s.mj.run/Lw_0fjfp0TM ::2 https://s.mj.run/O_w9neuqCMI ::6 --v 6.0A cat in a large hat made of tropical fruit. https://s.mj.run/43bAPM-ATlw --sref https://s.mj.run/Lw_0fjfp0TM --v 6.0A cat in a large hat made of tropical fruit. https://s.mj.run/43bAPM-ATlw --sref https://s.mj.run/Lw_0fjfp0TM --sw 777 --v 6.0A cat in a large hat made of tropical fruit. --sref https://s.mj.run/O_w9neuqCMI --sw 999 --v 6.0a fancy flowered teapot sitting on a table. --sref https://s.mj.run/43bAPM-ATlw --v 6.0